Since returning to full-time employment in the professional corporate environment (in downtown Boston), the one thing I've realized the most in these past 4+ months?
Man, I'm tired.
(Yes, my ass is sitting on a train for over 2 hours every day, but I'm still TIRED.)
Here's why:
1. I MUST leave the house by 6:42 a.m. 6:45 at the LATEST. Even when there's urine soaking on the floor. And children blocking my path. I won't even go into detail about waking up, hitting snooze, showering, blow-drying, flat-ironing, makeuping, dressing, packing my lunch. Oh wait, I kinda just did. On top of making nutritious breakfasts pouring bowls of sugared cereal and having some snuggle time with whomever is awake at that UNGODLY hour.
2. I drive about 20 minutes to the train station. And stress when I get stuck behind a school bus. (Hey, whatever happened to BUS STOPS? Why does it seem like each and every kid gets picked up directly in front of their house? Even when the houses are 2 doors down!)
3. I pull into the train parking lot. And must find a parking space that will ensure me maximum quickness in the evening when departing from said parking space. (The parking spots numbered 352-357 are the best for this, I've come to realize.) (More on the rationale behind this later.)
4. I have to make sure I have $2 to pay (daily) for parking. Which doesn't always happen. (Hello parking police. Yes, I will pay your fines. Eventually.)
5. Then, I scurry to the train. Sometimes I mustn't scurry. Sometimes I must SPRINT.
6. I have to stand in the appropriate spot on the platform to ensure that the train door will stop directly in front of me to ensure that I will be one of the first ones to enter the train to ensure that I will get a good seat on the train. I always get on the 2nd car from the front, and I try to sit in the window seat in the 2-seater row.
7. Commence snoozing whilst hoping that I'm not snoring or drooling. At this point, all I care about is waking up at my stop. I've only slept through my stop once. Which isn't a big deal. Then I just walk directly to work instead of taking the subway.
8. Get off at Back Bay. Climb steps into station and scurry through turnstyle to subway. Stand at platform and wait for the T. Elbow back those who elbow me in hopes of cramming onto overcrowded subway. Grrrrr. Find it ridiculous and aggravating and RUDE when snooty businessmen bury their noses in their morning paper and ignore pregnant women STANDING while they're SITTING. (I ALWAYS offer pregnant women my seat if I happen to be sitting. And I glare at the jerks who don't offer their seat.)
9. Get off subway 3 stops later. Walk 10 minutes to work. Arrive at work at 8:30 a.m. On a good morning with no delays, that is. Almost 2 hours after I left the Trenches that morning.
GETTING HOME:
1. Leave work by 4:45. Walk to South Station to catch commuter rail. (I don't take the subway at night. Easier to just walk directly to the train.)
2. Get on train. 2nd car from front again. Try to sit in aisle seat in 3-seater row that's already occupied with someone sitting on the inside. And then try to make myself look as large as possible so that no one will ask to sit in the middle. Best case scenario: I'm there early enough to get a single seater. Score!
3. Don't sleep. (I worry that I won't wake up at my stop and will end up stranded in Worcester.) Instead, solve "sudorku" puzzles, or read.
4. Head to front of train car at stop before my stop in order to get in line. The post-train traffic at my stop is a nightmare.
5. Since the parking lot is such a CLUSTERF*CK, once at my stop, I RUN from the platform, up the stairs (along with my fellow "rushers") and to my car. I learned the hard way that if I don't do this? I end up in PARKING LOT TRAFFIC for 20 minutes. 20 minutes that I'd like to spend WITH MY CHILDREN WHOM I HAVEN'T SEEN ALL DAY, THANKYOUVERYMUCH.
6. Drive 20 minutes home to the Trenches. Arrive around 6:30ish.
7. Hubby usually has dinner all ready (all together now: "Awwwwww...") and we sit down to eat. And talk about our day. And laugh. As I'm continually amazed at how blessed I am to have the family I have.
8. Dinner/dishes/cleanup lasts until at least 7pm. I'm still usually in my work clothes.
9. Bathtime for the 3 boyz. I usually do all the undressing, butt-wiping, bathing, drying off, diapering, pj-ing, hair combing, toothbrushing, etc. while Hubby does miscellaneous cleanup downstairs. I change into my workout gear at this point too.
10. Depending on the naps that Baby and Middle had that day, either it's Bath&Bed (with stories beforehand), or Bath&Downstairs (for an episode of John&KatePlus8 or the Sox game). And LOTS of snuggling.
11. Bedtime is 8:00ish.
12. Once the boyz are settled, I rush down to the basement to ride the stationary bike for 30 minutes. No running yet. It still gets dark around 7:30 and I don't want run at night until after the boyz are all tucked in.
13. Finally time to let the sweat dry relax in front of some quality programming bad (Real Housewives of NYC) reality (Big Brother) television (America's Next Top Model) shows (Survivor)! My DVR is my bestest friend. (And I'm too tired to link to those shows.)
14. Bed at 11. Wakeup at 5:30 and do it all over again.
Needless to say, I LIVE for weekends now. And vacation days.
And? I feel I must point out that I may just very well have The Best Husband Ever. Who has graciously (for the most part) picked up all the slack since I started being the breadwinner this new job.
I get that this sort of routine/lifestyle may not work for everyone, but it's working for us right now. And that's all I can ask for.
*yawn*
OK, I did this commute when I was single and it was exhausting. I can't even imagine trying to manage it with three kids now. My (proverbial) hat's off to you.
Posted by: Fairly Odd Mother | April 17, 2008 at 10:44 AM
My hat is off to you for finding what works for your family! I don't think I could last more than 2 months with your commute before my resume would be on the market again.
Posted by: T with Honey | April 17, 2008 at 12:58 PM
I did that sort of commute the first year we were back in the states. It about killed me, I don't know how you are doing it.
Posted by: Patty | April 17, 2008 at 05:42 PM